Mercedes E320 CDI S211, Shite or Shiteable?

[Snake Charmer]

My apprentice stayed on tonight and helped with swapping the air springs and dampers on the rear of the S211. Would have been a lot easier if I actually had the laptop in the laptop bag not just the cables and Mutleyperplexor! ☹️ Luckily I had the ICarsoft CR Max with me and made do with that and a bit of fiddling.

Drives superb now, no seasick inducing wobbling about, very stable at speed. 🤩 (Might have had a little hoon about on the way to collect a takeaway!) 😇

[Snake Charmer]

I took the radio satnav CD player assembly out to see what was needed cable wise to fit the A-Sure Android unit as the Mercedes system is bloody hard work to use. A 5m cable is required to reach the boot mounted fibre optic amplifier and Can-Bus connections. From reading up on the subject it seems all this does is bypass the amp to access the speakers so a bit more research is required. Currently thinking a Can-Bus connection and replacing the amp might be a better option and add a small bass box where the satnav currently sits.

[Snake Charmer]

Apparently there is a UK company selling an adaptor for £260 to use the original amp. Another Can-Bus adapter is needed for the steering wheel buttons.

Doesn't include the amp, doesn't include the speakers......

 

Seems expensive. 

[Snake Charmer]

Just remembered I fitted the GFY horn this evening, dead easy as I did all the hard work on the old car. 😀

[Cookiesouwest]

32 minutes ago, Snake Charmer said:

Apparently there is a UK company selling an adaptor for £260 to use the original amp. Another Can-Bus adapter is needed for the steering wheel buttons.

Doesn't include the amp, doesn't include the speakers......

 

Seems expensive. 

That does seem a tad pricey

[Snake Charmer]

15 minutes ago, Cookiesouwest said:

That does seem a tad pricey

Particularly so as the Android unit was bought from  @Jazoli out of the car he sadly weighed in. 

[Jazoli]

5 hours ago, Snake Charmer said:

Particularly so as the Android unit was bought from  @Jazoli out of the car he sadly weighed in. 

I didn't use an extra cable to the amp.

[Snake Charmer]

2 hours ago, Jazoli said:

I didn't use an extra cable to the amp.

This car has a different set of plugs at the head unit, all the speaker wires are with the amplifier on the left-hand side load space. The plugs you sent were fine in the other car but this car has satnav on the Comand unit and a fibre optic amp. 

[Snake Charmer]

I seem to have spent a lot of hours researching ways to fit the Chinese Android head unit with the factory amplifier and speakers and currently have no easy cheap way to do so. Looking likely I will fit a normal amp in place of the original infrared amp to the speakers in the load area, add cables from the head unit and patch into the Can-bus. Hopefully the extra power will liven up the sound as the internal amp quality is a little poor, would have been nice to use the existing equipment though. I'm not after audiophile quality just OE sound as both cars had a good enough sound for my needs. There seems to be quite a community for modifying these of units and hopefully I can find an easy way of adding an external microphone for the phone as the wee 1mm thing is not much cop.

Whilst fiddling with the Android unit in the old car I looked around at the grey and tan Designo interior, despite being a massive job I think that will be getting swapped over as the beige is not for me.

Sat in the workshop this evening and adjusted the rear ride height with the laptop, currently sitting how I would like but I'm not certain it sits level across the axle and that may be down to a discrepancy after tightening the r/h suspension arms under different hub heights. Seems to ride a little firmer at the rear now and corner flatter. 4 wheel alignment next on the cards.

[Snake Charmer]

Took a road trip to Brighton this evening and collected a set of NOS door and bumper rubbing strips for a W211 saloon in Classic trim (Poverty spec) in the hope a couple would be usable on my S211. I could not believe my luck, only the rear bumper centre trim is missing and as the estate has a completely different bumper with the trim moulded in I have a full car set. 🙂 Just need a Classic bumper now....

Averaged 40+ mpg on the rush to Brighton and 50+ mpg on the return trying to stick at 60mph.

If anyone could find me an S211 Classic rear bumper in their sock drawer or down the side bolster of the settee with the crips, Dreamies and cat fur I would be grateful. 👍

[Snake Charmer]

After some research into part numbers on rear bumpers, I have found an E220 CDI Classic estate being broken in Oldham also with a good tailgate. Looks like a road trip is in order one day next week then a proper chat with the painters and decorators. The front bumper needs painting too so I'm half way to a respray! 🙃

[Snake Charmer]

Small job done today fitting new number plates, not a 5 minute swap as hoped. Salvaged the front mounting surround off my old car and straightened it with a hot air gun. I'm quite impressed how well it survived after pushing that Audi Q5 sideways uphill on the A30.

It never ceases to amaze me how many layers of bodges I find on number plates when changing them and the rear was no exception. First off two black plastic screws into rivnuts added due to two mounting screws broken off in the original Mercedes alloy mounts. These were screwed in just enough to hold the plate against the original mounts.

As the tailgate is scrap l ground the Mercedes alloy rivnut mounts off to use sticky pads,  this is bodge two as there were self tapping screws rusted in the alloy mounts and they are threaded for screws. I wonder where they went or did the dealer do the self tappers?

Never mind, I can go through it all again with the new tailgate!

[Snake Charmer]

Started the road trip to collect the bumper and tailgate at 06:30 this morning collecting @bobdisk. Delivered a Nissan Terrano boot liner (sold 3 years ago!) in Solihull by 08:30 and stopped for coffee and a breakfast sarnie at Hopwood Park service area. Sarnies from Daves butty van round the corner and brewed our own coffee. 😀

[Snake Charmer]

Made it to Prestige Allparts in Oldham during their bloody lunch hour! Bumper was excellent and the tailgate rust free bit sadly had a couple of dents that will need attention. 

Headed to Costco to fill up with fuel then pointed South ending up at Tatton House in the rain. 🤨 Bought sausages and the worlds smallest fridge magnet for the missus.

Other than seeing a nice Peugeot 505 turbo diesel on the way back and taking a few wrong turns not much to report for 460 miles. Of course there was an endless stream of arsewipes masquerading as skilled drivers, enough to start a YouTube drivel channel.

[Snake Charmer]

Now I need to do a bit of research on the tailgate. No number plate, no badges and no information on the S211 it came off. Has a full width high level brake light under the spoiler and a small black Mercedes-Benz star.

First thoughts are a facelift car for the brake light and an Ebay Billy Bolton badge but it does fit well. Need to prize it off and see underneath For MB numbers 

Some daft seanut has prized the left hand badges off and dented the panel. 

[Snake Charmer]

Tackled the stale coffee and dogs smell in the car as I've had enough of it. Found spilt coffee around the gear lever, cubby box and ashtray. The ashtray had a rubber mat so is storage and the mat stinks of stale deodorant so I now have a full ashtray from the other car. Really annoying as the mat gives more space.

While the seats are down in the back l wet vacuumed the load space, looks a lot better but still dirty. Cannot do anything about the paint spill but that hides under the hidden storage box.

 

[Snake Charmer]

I have spent a lot of time researching the fitment of my Chinese Android radio in the new S211 from the old S211. Learnt a lot and been well and truly confused a lot! 🤪

The old S211 had Audio 20 with a phone kit, the new S211 has Comand 50 with Satnav, Infrared amplifier and all the associated gubbins. In simple terms it's not easy to fit without buying an IR adaptor or another cable to bypass the IR amp.

I have decided to buy neither and ordered a Vibe amp to run off the RCA outputs to replace the original then wire into the existing speakers. Saved some money on amp fitting kits and RCA cables as l found the ones out of the other halfs Astra GTE she had 25 years ago! I will code out all the Mercedes stuff and gently remove it to save weight. 

[Snake Charmer]

New toys arrived to fit the Android head unit, 3 times what I paid for it from @Jazoli. 🤣

Need a couple more bits such as a Fakra cable for the antenna and possibly an additional single RCA cable for an additional small standalone bass box, rather run the cable and leave it redundant if the amp livens the original speakers up to OE sounds. Will also run a reversing camera cable in and wondering if I can use the Mercedes amplified satellite antenna from the Comand unit in the back.

[Jazoli]

You really have far more patience than me, but it’s worth it for bringing the car up to date ahead unit wise, I’ve been spoilt by AA and CarPlay and wouldn’t have a car that came without it or I couldn’t retrofit it to for my daily.

[Snake Charmer]

35 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

You really have far more patience than me, but it’s worth it for bringing the car up to date ahead unit wise, I’ve been spoilt by AA and CarPlay and wouldn’t have a car that came without it or I couldn’t retrofit it to for my daily.

I refuse to let things beat me. The sound from the internal amp in this unit was not up to qualiity the Audio 20 gave in the other car. The equaliser helped but it lacked the bass. As it will not easily fit the new car I went the standalone amp route in the hope of better quality sound fingers crossed. 👍

I am tempted tempted by some of the newer units as a replacement if the sound doesn't come up to snuff with the additional features they now have. 

[Snake Charmer]

"Kinetic New Car Scent" my arse, Chinese laundry crashed into by a truck load of Febreze more like. 🤮

I will be the one driving to work in the morning with the windaz dahn. 🤯

[Snake Charmer]

Refitted the rear seat squabs, storage box and headrests after the recent wet vacuum in my S211. Even though the floor mats came up quite well, one rrip to work has them looking dirty again so I pinched the dark grey Designo set from the old S211. I really do prefer the dark grey and tan Designo interior.

Whilst in the footwells I checked on the A/C carbon filters to see if they showed any signs of being changed. Just like my old S211 they are the originals so I swapped them out.

Also swapped out the 12V socket in the load space as the cap was missing and refilled the elastic storage net with my emergency and fuel station chod.

Had a good look at the navigation CD unit and infrared amplifier connections so I can order the correct Fakra cable from the antenna amp up to the head unit. Oh the joys, I found 3, one on the navigation unit and two on the amplifier. Hours of fun to be had now on Google confirming my suspicions as to which on it is.

[Westbay]

If it helps, on my Audi the nav fakra is blue ...

[Snake Charmer]

1 hour ago, Westbay said:

If it helps, on my Audi the nav fakra is blue ...

Thanks, my car seems to be the same. 

I am 99% certain the radio Fakra is the black connector. From what I have researched so far, the universal Fakra extension cables seem to have all the slots on their sockets and no protrusions on the plugs.

[Snake Charmer]

Seems the problem was easily sorted by looking on Amazon for a "Universal Fakra Extension Cable"!! 🤣

Just need to find out what controls the antenna amplifier power now. 

[Snake Charmer]

Stayed on at work last night and swapped the plastic scuttle panel over from the old S211 as the screen seal was almost non existant. The replacement is not perfect so I will look into the cost of a new replacement.

[Snake Charmer]

I must have broken the drivers wiper clip as heading home Monday on the M25 the wiper did a U turn so I had to pull over. Made it home and rescued the spare which was on this car when I bought it. Slightly annoying as I have not had my money's worth out of it yet but should be able to swap the blade over when needed. 🤑

Need to do something about the drivers seat lumbar support as that is not working and seems to have collapsed and is now uncomfortable. 

[Snake Charmer]

I stayed on at work tonight to have a look at the drivers seat non functional lumbar support. Easy access with the seat back off but the gearbox is riveted to the seat frame on assembly and not easy to drill out, a chisel won the battle.

The gearbox has worm and wheel gears and one has stripped.

Part number for the gearbox is 2119100285 and no longer available.

I considered pinching the gearbox from the passenger side but they are handed and I would like that side to remain intact as I may have some long distances to travel with a passenger who may appreciate the lumbar support.

I sat in the passenger seat and adjusted the working lumbar support to a comfortable position and measured the movement on the bow then replicated that measurement on the drivers seat with two big cable ties. Much betterer and comfortable much morer on the way home. I definitely will be fitting the Designo interior from the other S211, that has bladders in both seats.

[Snake Charmer]

I have been really lazy with car recently, plenty to do but no enthusiasm. Pretty much all l need to fit the Android head unit from the old S211 is sat in the spare room, even bought another reversing camera.

Swapping the rear bumper and detachable towbar ended up with me buying a 7 to 13 pin adaptor. I tested that last week in case I was called upon at the last minute to collect a replica AC for a young man on this forum.

Service C has been flashing up but I put that off until the above collection had been done and dusted, now it's overdue. I will be doing a gearbox service and convertor flush plus giving the conductor plate a good clean.

All the new bulbs l fitted to the old S211 are still sitting in there waiting to be swapped over, now the evenings are darker l need a little more light for the fog light wankers that come out this time of year and the Teslas etc where you cannot see the road.

I have been putting off repairing the memory drivers door mirror as the non memory mirror currently fitted works perfectly well as a normal mirror. The passenger side has been giving an indicator lamp failure warning on the dash for a while and again, putting off a repair as despite the warning, the lamp works ok.

As mentioned above, the countdown to Service C has been coming on for a while at startup and now beeping as l have exceeded the date. Day two l was greeted with the shock horror naughty boy shame on you for not servicing me beep and then the left mirror indicator not working warning. First time I indicate left a fast ticky ticky ticking of the left indicator and the warning back again, the usual sound of an indicator bulb out. Checked at work and yes, the mirror indicator is out but the front and rear lamps are flashing at the normal rate. Not only do you get a warning on the dash but an old school audible ticky ticky bulb out warning out of time to the actual flashing! Time to fix the mirrors.

 

Today l gathered all the drivers mirror parts together dismantled months ago and spent ages looking for the screws that used to hold it all together. No joy, so I removed the broken passenger door mirror from my old S211 for the screws and reference as to how it goes back together. Door card off etc., at least l now know what colour code the front left speaker is for wiring the amplifier sitting in my spare room.

 

Found the 3 screws to hold the mirror to the door.

Wangled the loom out of the mirror casing, great, three of five black wires broken!

Luckily, four of the wires are numbered at each end for the indicator lamp and easily identified by metering out.

Found the other missing screws in my mutleymeter accessory box.

All the screws now have their own pot.

I bought some multi strand silicone cable to replace all the wires where they flex, slightly bigger diameter insulation than the original and much more flexible. Not a problem with the bigger bunch once together in the area they work in. Now the laborious job of preparing and soldering 28 joints, I did contemplate new mirror internals but a pair is nearly what l paid for the old S211 even aftermarket!

After struggling to wangle the loom out of the casing, I found that removing the huge spring and unclipping the cover unfolds the casing to make reassembly easier. Should make repairing the left hand side easier too.

Then I had an idea. If I swap the passenger mirror over and cable tie the broken folding mechanism permanently out l can procrastinate over 56 solder joints whilst the parts languish on my bench. Indicator problem solved but I will miss the left mirror dipping to see the kerb in reverse whilst parking. Maybe that will prompt me to fit the Android head unit and reversing camera.......

[mercedade]

Will have to carve out some time to read this thread - my sister's S211 has carked it bigly, and she's spending out to get the autobox sorted.